Apparatus and method of reading and recording content data with validation

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for furnishing discs with additional information specific to a given device for disc management purposes. An information control unit references a disc management table in a data management memory to verify whether or not a disc ID acquired from a current disc information management unit has already been recorded. If the result reveals the disc has never been loaded, the information control unit adds disc information about the disc to the disc management table. A user may furnish the disc with such additional information as a local disc ID and a local disc name specific to the user&#39;s device. The information control unit enters the additional information into the disc management table in association with the disc ID.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C.§ 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP03/007101, filed Jun. 5,2003, which claims priority from Japanese Application Nos. JP2002-164610, filed Jun. 5, 2002, and JP 2002-195661, filed Jul. 4, 2002,the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, a recording medium, and a program. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an information processingapparatus, an information processing method, a recording medium, and aprogram for managing information recorded on recording media such asoptical discs in such a manner that the recorded information may bedisplayed in an easy-to-view format, sorted out, and searched for withease.

2. Background Art

Today, diverse recording media such as magnetic discs, optical discs,magneto-optical discs, and semiconductor memories are coming-intogeneral use. Illustratively, users can record desired music or picturedata to the recording medium, reproduce recorded music or picture datafrom the medium, or edit the recorded data through the intervention ofthe medium.

However, one disadvantage has been recognized for the disc media: theyhave no IDs of their own, so that there has been no viable method bywhich to manage the discs using IDs.

A method has been proposed which allows users to write anydistinguishable IDs to their own AV (audio visual) apparatus for discmanagement. A disadvantage of this method is that since the IDs arewritten to an internal memory of each apparatus, the discs involved canbe managed by that apparatus alone and not by any other AV apparatus, atleast not in the same manner.

Where a single disc is to be shared by a plurality of users, it ispreferred that the disc be furnished with different additionalinformation specific to each user or to each AV apparatus to be used.

If data are desired to be recorded to a given disc and if that disc isnot immediately available for loading into the AV apparatus at hand, itis desirable that the data be retained temporarily on an internal harddisc or the like of the apparatus for management purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstancesand provides an apparatus, a method, a recording medium, and a programfor furnishing discs with different additional information specific toeach user or to each apparatus and for allowing data to be storedtemporarily inside the apparatus if a recording disc is not loaded inthe apparatus for the moment.

An information processing apparatus of the present invention includes: areading means for reading, from a loaded information recording medium,identification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; an acquiring means for acquiring related information about firstcontent data recorded on the information recording medium; a recordingmeans for recording the identification information read out by thereading means and the related information acquired by the acquiringmeans, in such a manner that the identification information isassociated with the related information; and a comparing means forcomparing the identification information read out by the reading meanswith the identification information associated with the relatedinformation recorded by the recording means.

If the comparison by the comparing means reveals that the identificationinformation read out by the reading means has not been recorded by therecording means, then the recording means may record the identificationinformation and the related information acquired by the acquiring meansin such a manner that the identification information is associated withthe related information.

The information processing apparatus may further include: a displaycontrolling means for controlling display of the related informationrecorded by the recording means; and a selecting means for selecting therelated information of which the display is controlled by the displaycontrolling means; wherein the comparing means may compare theidentification information associated with the related informationselected by the selecting means with the identification information readout by the reading means.

The information processing apparatus may further include a reproducingmeans which, if the comparison by the comparing means reveals that theidentification information associated with the related informationselected by the selecting means matches the identification informationread out by the reading means, then reproduces from the informationrecording medium the first content data associated with the relatedinformation selected by the selecting means.

The information processing apparatus may further include a notifyingmeans which, if the comparison by the comparing means reveals that theidentification information associated with the related informationselected by the selecting means does not match the identificationinformation read out by the reading means, then prompts a user to loadthe information recording medium associated with the identificationinformation read out by the reading means.

The information processing apparatus may further include: a storingmeans for storing second content data acquired so as to be recorded tothe information recording medium, in association with the identificationinformation for identifying the information recording medium; and adetermining means for determining whether or not the identificationinformation read out by the reading means matches the identificationinformation associated with the second content data stored by thestoring means.

The information processing apparatus may further include a writing meanswhich, if the determining means determines that the identificationinformation read out by the reading means matches the identificationinformation associated with the second content data stored by thestoring means, then reads the second content data from the storing meansand writes the second content data to the information recording medium.

The recording means may record, in association with the identificationinformation, additional information which differs from the relatedinformation recorded on the information recording medium and whichconcerns the first content data.

An information processing method of the present invention includes thesteps of: reading, from a loaded information recording medium,identification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; acquiring related information about first content data recordedon the information recording medium; recording the identificationinformation read out in the reading step and the related informationacquired in the acquiring step, in such a manner that the identificationinformation is associated with the related information; and comparingthe identification information read out in the reading step with theidentification information associated with the related informationrecorded in the recording step.

The information processing method may further include the steps of:storing second content data acquired so as to be recorded to theinformation recording medium, in association with the identificationinformation for identifying the information recording medium; anddetermining whether or not the identification information read out inthe reading step matches the identification information associated withthe second content data stored in the storing step.

The information processing method may further include the step of, ifthe determining step determines that the identification information readout in the reading step matches the identification informationassociated with the second content data stored in the storing step,reading the second content data stored in the storing step and writingthe second content data to the information recording medium.

A recording medium of the present invention which stores acomputer-readable program includes the steps of: reading, from a loadedinformation recording medium, identification information for identifyingthe information recording medium; acquiring related information aboutcontent data recorded on the information recording medium; recording theidentification information read out in the reading step and the relatedinformation acquired in the acquiring step, in such a manner that theidentification information is associated with the related information;and comparing the identification information read out in the readingstep with the identification information associated with the relatedinformation recorded in the recording step.

A program of the present invention for causing a computer to execute thesteps of: reading, from a loaded information recording medium,identification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; acquiring related information about content data recorded on theinformation recording medium; recording the identification informationread out in the reading step and the related information acquired in theacquiring step, in such a manner that the identification information isassociated with the related information; and comparing theidentification information read out in the reading step with theidentification information associated with the related informationrecorded in the recording step.

Through the use of the information processing apparatus, informationprocessing method, and program according to the invention,identification information for identifying a loaded informationrecording medium is first read out of the medium. Related informationabout the content data recorded on that information recording medium isacquired. The two kinds of information are then recorded in associationwith each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram outlining a typical structure of a videorecorder embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing typical current information held in astorage unit;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view sketching a data structure of currentinformation retained in the storage unit;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of steps constituting a routine process;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of steps detailing a duplication process in stepS2 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a typical library list screen display;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of steps detailing a reproduction reservationprocess as an example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a typical submenu display of the librarylist;

FIG. 8B is a schematic view of another typical submenu display of thelibrary list;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a typical title list screen display;

FIG. 10A is a schematic view of another typical submenu display of thetitle list;

FIG. 10B is a schematic view of another typical submenu display of thetitle list;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a typical error message screen display;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of steps detailing a search process as anotherexample of step S9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a typical tool display of the librarylist;

FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a typical search condition setting screendisplay;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of another typical search condition settingscreen display;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of another typical search condition settingscreen display;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of another typical search condition settingscreen display;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a typical search result screen display;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of a typical search setting confirmationscreen display;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of steps detailing a deletion process as anotherexample of step S9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view showing a typical screen display fordeleting selected entries from the list;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view depicting another typical screen display fordeleting selected entries from the list;

FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating a typical dialog screen displayfor deleting selected entries from the list;

FIG. 25 is a schematic view indicating a typical dialog screen displayfor deleting an entry from the list;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of steps detailing a mode setting process asanother example of step S9 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display forsetting list entry mode;

FIG. 28A is a schematic view of a typical message screen display;

FIG. 28B is a schematic view of another typical message screen display;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of another typical message screen display;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of steps detailing a duplicate storage process instep S12 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a typical tool display of the title list;

FIG. 32 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display of discinformation;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of a typical AV system embodying thisinvention;

FIG. 34 is a block diagram presenting electrical connections in adigital video recorder included in FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a block diagram outlining the functions of a systemcontroller included in FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a schematic view showing a typical structure of an HDDincluded in FIG. 35;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view depicting relations between a datamanagement memory and the HDD;

FIG. 38 is a schematic view illustrating other relations between thedata management memory and the HDD;

FIG. 39 is a flowchart of steps constituting another routine process;

FIG. 40 is a schematic view of a typical disc information screendisplay;

FIG. 41 is a flowchart of steps constituting a content recordingprocess;

FIG. 42 is a schematic view of a typical content recording settingscreen display;

FIG. 43 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

FIG. 44 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display broughtabout when a No button is selected on the dialog screen of FIG. 43;

FIG. 45 is a flowchart of steps constituting a recording process;

FIG. 46 is a schematic view of another typical dialog screen display;

FIG. 47 is a schematic view of a typical disc change screen display;

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of steps constituting a priority setting process;

FIG. 49 is a schematic view-of a typical priority setting screendisplay;

FIG. 50 is a schematic view of a typical pull-down screen displaybrought about when a Priority button is selected on the priority settingscreen of FIG. 49;

FIG. 51A is an explanatory view showing how priorities are set;

FIG. 51B is another explanatory view depicting how priorities are set;

FIG. 52 is a flowchart of steps constituting a search process;

FIG. 53 is a schematic view of a typical dialog screen display;

FIG. 54 is a flowchart of steps constituting a display process;

FIG. 55 is a schematic view of a typical HDD reference screen display;

FIG. 56 is a schematic view of a typical disc reference screen display;and

FIG. 57 is a block diagram sketching a typical internal structure of ageneral-purpose computer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Preferred embodiments of this invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows a typical structure of a digital videorecorder practiced as a first embodiment of this invention. This digitalvideo recorder is capable of reproducing video and audio content datafrom a disc 1 and recording some information to the disc 1.

The disc 1 is loaded into a disc drive, not shown, of the digital videorecorder. The disc 1 is any one of writable media such as CD-R (CompactDisc-Recordable), CD-RW (CD-ReWritable), DVD-R (Digital VersatileDisc-Recordable), and DVD-RW (DVD-ReWritable). The digital videorecorder may record video and audio content data or additionalinformation (e.g., disc name and title names) associated with thecontent data to data recording areas of the disc 1. A plurality of titlenames may be recorded to a single disc 1.

A predetermined recording area of the disc 1 illustratively contains apreviously recorded 16-digit disc ID specific to that disc. Certaindigits of the disc ID (e.g., its low-order four digits) are visiblyindicated as a cartridge ID on the disc surface.

Although only one disc is shown in the example of FIG. 1, this is notlimitative of the invention. A digital video recorder with a discchanger capability may have a plurality of discs 1 loaded therein.

An information control unit 2 executes predetermined control programsbased on input signals which represent a user's operations and which arefed from an input unit 11. Through the program execution, theinformation control unit 2 controls a search unit 3, a sort unit 4, arecording/reproduction unit 5, a current disc information managementunit 6, and a storage information management unit 7. The informationcontrol unit 2 acquires current information from the current discinformation management unit 6 and sends the acquired information to thestorage information management unit 7.

The information control unit 2 supplies a display unit 9 and speakers 10with pictures and sounds represented by the content data fed from therecording/reproduction unit 5. Furthermore, the information control unit2 outputs to the display unit 9 diverse kinds of information (discinformation and title information, to be described later) sent from thecurrent disc information management unit 6 or from the storageinformation management unit 7. Also output to the display unit 9 aresearch results from the search unit 3 and sorted results from the sortunit 4.

Under control of the information control unit 2, the search unit 3causes the current disc information management unit 6 and storageinformation management unit 7 to search for the information designatedby the user, and sends the result of the search to the informationcontrol unit 2. The sort unit 4 under control of the information controlunit 2 causes the current disc information management unit 6 and storageinformation management unit 7 to sort information in the orderdesignated by the user, and supplies the sorted result to theinformation control unit 2.

The recording/reproduction unit 5 under control of the informationcontrol unit 2 records content data from the information control unit 2to the disc 1, or reads content data from the disc 1 and supplies theretrieved data to the control unit 2. In addition, therecording/reproduction unit 5 under control of the information controlunit 2 records to the disc 1 various kinds of information which havebeen input by the user.

The current disc information management unit 6 acquires currentinformation from the loaded disc 1 and sends the acquired information tothe information control unit 2. The storage information management unit7 stores into a storage unit 8 the current information acquired from theinformation control unit 2, or retrieves current information from thestorage unit 8 and feeds the retrieved information to the informationcontrol unit 2.

The storage unit 8 is illustratively made up of a mass-storage hard discdrive. Under management of the storage information management unit 7,the storage unit 8 retains the current information acquired from thedisc 1. The current information at least includes a disc ID and a titlenumber associated with that disc ID.

With this embodiment, when the disc 1 is loaded, current informationretrieved from the disc 1 is stored successively into the storage unit 8as long as the unit 8 has a free space. When the storage unit 8 has beenexhausted in capacity, the stored information is overwritten with newinformation either automatically or upon display of a message promptingthe user to delete unnecessary information from storage.

The display unit 9 is constituted illustratively by an LCD (liquidcrystal display) or the like. In operation, the display unit 9reproduces (i.e., displays) content data from the disc 1 or displays alibrary list screen 51 (FIG. 6), to be discussed later.

The input unit 11 may be composed of buttons, switches, a keyboard, amouse, and/or a jog dial attached to the apparatus body. The input unit11 may alternatively a remote commander furnished independently of thebody.

FIG. 2 schematically shows typical current information held in thestorage unit 8. In the storage unit 8, disc information 21 is stored inassociation with sets of title information 22-1 through 22-N (or simplycalled the title information 22 if there is no specific need todistinguish the title information sets 22-1 through 22-N from oneanother). Although only one set of disc information 21 is shown in theexample of FIG. 2, this is not limitative of the invention.Alternatively, a plurality of disc information sets 21 may be stored,each in association with the title information sets 22-1 through 22-N.

The disc information 21 includes a disc ID, a disc name, a disc lockflag, a remaining disc capacity, a total title count, and recordingdates. The disc ID is illustratively formed by 16 alphanumericcharacters specific to the disc 1 and recorded previously on the disc 1.A suitable disc name is provided by the user in order to name the disc 1as desired. The disc lock flag indicates whether the informationrecorded on the disc 1 is being locked. The remaining disc capacityrefers to the currently available storage capacity of the disc 1. Thetotal title count represents the total number of title information sets22-1 through 22-N, to be described later. The recording dates indicatethe oldest and the latest dates of the content data recorded on the disc1.

The title information sets 22-1 through 22-N each include a titlenumber, a title-specific number, a title name, a channel name, arecording date, an unwatched flag, and a recording length. The titlenumber is any number that is distinguishable within the disc 1. Thetitle-specific number represents a number that is specific to eachcontent data item. The tile name is a name given to each content dataitem. The channel name denotes the broadcasting station from which thecontent data were broadcast. The recording date stands for the date onwhich the content data were recorded. The unwatched flag is a flag thatindicates whether a given content data item has been watched.

FIG. 3 depicts a typical data structure of current information stored inthe storage unit 8. With this data structure, disc information sets 21-1through 21-50 for up to 50 discs 1 may be accommodated. For purpose ofillustration, the disc information sets 21-1 through 21-50 may beassociated with 200 title information sets 22-1-1 through 22-50-200.

The storage unit 8 is formed illustratively by a total of 108 blocksranging from block 0 to block 107, each block having a size of 16kilobytes. In the description that follows, the blocks 0 through 102 maybe collectively called a storage area and the blocks 103 through 107 atemp area as needed.

The block 0 (TOC) accommodates 15 kilobytes of TOC (table of contents)information. The block 1 holds disc information sets 21-1 through 21-25and the block 2 retains disc information sets 21-26 through 21-50, eachdisc information set having a size of 600 bytes. The block 3 (title) hastitle information sets 22-1-1 through 22-1-100, block 4 has titleinformation sets 22-1-101 through 22-1-200, and so on. The block 102 hastitle information sets 22-50-101 through 22-50-200. Each titleinformation set has a size of 160 bytes.

In the example of FIG. 3, one block accommodates disc information 21 of25 discs and title information 22 of 100 titles. The regions indicatedas “Reserved” make up unused (i.e., reserved) areas.

The block 103 (temp header) holds location information about contentdata recorded on the loaded disc. The block 104 (temp TOC) retains TOCinformation about the loaded disc. The block 105 (temp disc) keeps discinformation about the loaded disc. The blocks 106 and 107 (temp title 1,temp title 2) each accommodate title information about the loaded disc.The blocks 103 through 107 are provided for use in a duplication processexecuted to eliminate mismatches between stored information items.

The phenomenon called the mismatch occurs illustratively when power isremoved inadvertently while data are being written to the storage unit8. The sudden disruption of power can leave a single data item updatedonly halfway; part of the data item is renewed but the rest remains old.

With this embodiment, the mismatch is prevented for each disc 1 byoperating simultaneously on one block of TOC information, one block ofdisc information, and two (or a plurality of) blocks of titleinformation. Illustratively, the block 0 holding the TOC information,block 1 retaining the disc information set 21-1, and blocks 3 and 4having the title information sets 22-1-1 through 22-1-200 are handled asa single coherent group for a disc ID of “0.”

Information is written and retrieved on a block-by-block basis. When theinformation in the temp area is all copied to the storage area in aprocess that will be described later, the temp header (block 103) of thetemp area is cleared.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4 is the routineprocess carried out by the digital video decoder shown in FIG. 1.

In step S1, the information control unit 2 determines whether or not thedigital video recorder is turned on in response to the user's operation.The information control unit 2 waits for power to be applied. If poweris found to be applied in step S1, step S2 is reached. In step S2, theinformation control unit 2 causes the storage information managementunit 7 to carry out a duplication process.

Details of the duplication process are discussed below by referring tothe flowchart of FIG. 5.

In step S21, the storage information management unit 7 reads informationfrom the temp header (block 103) in the temp area of the storage unit 8.In step S22, the storage information management unit 7 determineswhether the temp header information retrieved in step S21 turns out tobe cleared. If the temp header information is found to be cleared, stepS23 is reached.

In step S23, the storage information management unit 7 determines thatthe diverse kinds of information held in the storage area are validgiven the fact that the temp header information is found cleared. Thestorage information management unit 7 then reads the TOC informationfrom the TOC (block 0) in the storage area.

If in step S22 the temp header information is not found to be cleared,step S24 is reached. In step S24, the storage information managementunit 7 determines that the items of information held in the storage areaare invalid. The storage information management unit 7 then reads theTOC information from the temp TOC (block 104) in the temp area andcopies the retrieved information to the TOC (block 0) in the storagearea.

In step S25, the storage information management unit 7 reads the discinformation from the temp disc block (block 105) in the temp area inaccordance with the temp header information, and copies the retrievedinformation to a disc block (e.g., block 1) in the storage area.

In step S26, the storage information management unit 7 reads the titleinformation from the temp title 1 (block 106) in the temp area inaccordance with the temp header information, and copies the retrievedinformation to a title block (e.g., block 3) in the storage area. Ifmore title information is found in the temp title 2 (block 107), thatinformation is copied to another title block (e.g., block 4) in thestorage area.

In step S27, the storage information management unit 7 clears theinformation from the temp header (block 103) in the temp area.

As described, if the items of information kept in the storage area arefound to be invalid, then steps S24 through S27 are carried out to copythe valid information retained in the temp area. The process is designedto maintain data consistency.

After step S23 or S27, control is returned to step S3 of FIG. 4. In stepS3, the information control unit 2 causes the storage informationmanagement unit 7 to acquire disc information and title informationusing the TOC information as the key. That is, the storage informationmanagement unit 7 obtains the disc and title information from thestorage unit 8 on the basis of the TOC information retrieved in step S23or S24 as discussed above with reference to FIG. 5.

In step S4, the information control unit 2 determines whether or not thedisc 1 is loaded in the disc drive, not shown. If the disc 1 is found tobe loaded, step S5 is reached. In step S5, the information control unit2 causes the current disc information management unit 6 to readthe-current information from the loaded disc 1.

If in step S4 the disc 1 is not found to be loaded, step S5 is skipped.In step S6, the information control unit 2 determines whether or not theuser has requested display of a library list. The information controlunit 2 waits for the user to request a library list display.

If in step S6 the display of a library list is found requested, step S7is reached. In step S7, the information control unit 2 outputs to thedisplay unit 9 the current information acquired from the current discinformation management unit 6 and the disc information obtained from thestorage information management unit 7. The display unit 9 displays thereceived information as the library list.

FIG. 6 gives a display example of a library list screen 51. The librarylist screen 51 indicates a library list display area 52, a cursor 53, aloaded disc mark 54, a display sequence setting area 55, an OK button, aTool button 57, and a Back button 58.

The library list display area 52 shows a list of cartridge IDs (part ofdisc IDs), disc names, and remaining disc capacities taken out of thedisc information acquired from the current disc information managementunit 6 and storage information management unit 7. The cursor 53 is shownhighlighting the disc information constituted by “0134 (cartridge ID),*** Hamasaki (disc name), 12.0 GM (remaining disc capacity).” The loadeddisc mark 54 indicates that the loaded disc 1 has the disc information“5281, *** STORY, 5.8 GB.”

The display sequence setting area 55 shows items “Number,” “Name” and“Remaining Capacity.” The displayed information is sorted by one ofthese items which is selected by the user (i.e., by cartridge ID, bydisc name, or by remaining disc capacity in descending order). In theexample of FIG. 6, the displayed information is shown sorted by number(by cartridge ID).

The buttons 56 through 58 are each selected as needed by the useroperating the input unit 11. Selecting the OK button 56 displays asubmenu 61 (FIG. 8A or 8B); selecting the Tool button 57 displays a toolmenu 121 (FIG. 14); and selecting the Back button 58 terminates thelibrary list screen 51.

Returning to step S8 in FIG. 4, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has requested any one ofpredetermined processes (e.g., reproduction reservation, search, ordeletion). If one of these processes is found to be requested, step S9is reached in which the requested process is performed.

For example, it is assumed that the reproduction reservation process isrequested in step S9. Details of the reproduction reservation processare discussed below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7.

In step S41, the information control unit 2 determines whether or notany title is selected and its reproduction requested by the user. Theinformation control unit 2 waits for reproduction of a title to berequested. Described below with reference to FIGS. 8A through 10 is whattakes place until a desired title is selected and its reproductionrequested.

Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 selects a desired item(disc information “0134, *** Hamasaki, 12.0 GB” in this example) by useof the cursor 53 on the library list screen 51 and pushes the OK button56. In that case, the information control unit 2, given the user'sinstruction, causes the display unit 9 to display the library listsubmenu 61 as shown in FIG. 8A. The submenu 61 includes suchuser-selectable items as “Close,” “Title List,” “Disc Information,” and“Delete Entries from List.”

If locked disc information (e.g., “0007: This Disc Is Locked” in FIG. 6)is selected by the cursor 53 before the OK button 56 is pushed, then thesubmenu 61 of FIG. 8B appears. This submenu 61 indicates user-selectableitems such as “Close” and “Delete Entries from List.”

When the user selects the item “Title List” by operating a cursor 62 onthe submenu 61 of FIG. 8A, the information control unit 2 outputs to thedisplay unit 9 the title information which corresponds to theuser-selected disc information and which is derived from the titleinformation acquired from the storage information management unit 7. (Inthis case, the title information corresponds to the disc informationhaving the cartridge ID “0134” and the disc name “*** Hamasaki.”) Thedisplay unit 9 displays the received information as a title list.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a display example of a title list screen 71.The title list screen 71 includes a title list display area 72, a cursor73, a Close button 74, an OK button 75, a Tool button 76, and a Backbutton 77.

The title list display area 72 gives a list of title numbers, titlenames, and recording dates derived from the title information associatedwith the disc information having the cartridge ID “0134” and the discname “*** Hamasaki.” In this example, the cursor 73 is shownhighlighting the title information “26 (title No.), Title A (titlename), Nov. 30, 1999 (recording date).”

The buttons 74 through 77 are each selected as needed for operation bythe user. Selecting the Close button 74 terminates the title list screen71 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG. 6); selectingthe OK button 75 displays a title list submenu 81 (FIG. 10A or 10B);selecting the Tool button 76 displays a title list tool menu 271 (FIG.31); and selecting the Back button 77 terminates the title list screen71 and replaces it with the library list screen 51.

Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 selects a desired item(title information “26, Title A, Nov. 30, 1999” in this example) by useof the cursor 73 on the title list screen 71 and pushes the OK button75. In that case, the information control unit 2, given the user'sinstruction, causes the display unit 9 to display the title list submenu81 as shown in FIG. 10A. The submenu 81 includes such user-selectableitems as “Close,” “Reproduce,” and “Reproduce from Desired Location.”

If the content data corresponding to the title information selected bythe cursor 73 are being reproduced at present, a title list submenu 81such as one shown in FIG. 10B appears. This submenu 81 includes suchuser-selectable items as “Close” and “Reproduce and Stop.”

Selecting the item “Reproduce” using a cursor 82 on the submenu 81 ofFIG. 10A allows the user to request reproduction of the desired title.This operation permits the information control unit 2 to determine, instep S41 of FIG. 7, that reproduction of the specified title has beenrequested. The information control unit 2 then goes to step S42.

In step S42, the information control unit 2 determines whether or notany title (content data) not recorded on the loaded disc has beenselected. If any title absent from the loaded disc is found to beselected, step S43 is reached. In step S43, the information control unit2 sets the recording/reproduction unit 5 to automatic reproduction mode.

In step S44, the information control unit 2 causes the display unit 9 todisplay a message prompting the user to load the selected disc.Illustratively, a dialog screen 91 shown in FIG. 11 appears. The dialogscreen 91 indicates a disc name 92 of the selected disc (“0134, ***Hamasaki” in this example) along with the message urging the user toload the disc.

Viewing the dialog screen 91, the user can easily search through thevisibly indicated cartridge IDs of the discs 1 at hand for the cartridgeID (“0134” in this case) of the disc containing the title to bereproduced (content data).

The dialog screen 91 of FIG. 11 includes a Cancel button 93 and a Backbutton 94 which may be operated selectively by the user. Operating theCancel button 93 cancels reproduction of the content data, and operatingthe Back button 94 calls up the library list screen 51 (FIG. 6) again.

Returning to step S45 in FIG. 7, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has pushed the Cancel button 93 orthe Back button 94. If the Cancel button 93 or the Back button 94 isfound to be pushed, step S46 is reached. In step S46, the informationcontrol unit 2 cancels the automatic reproduction mode set for therecording/reproduction unit 5 in step S43.

If in step S45 neither the Cancel button 93 nor the Back button 94 isfound selected, step S47 is reached. In step S47, therecording/reproduction unit 5 determines whether or not the selecteddisc (disc with the cartridge ID “0134” and the disc name “*** Hamasaki”in the example of FIG. 11) is loaded. If the selected disc is not foundto be loaded, step S45 is reached again and the above-described processof the step is repeated.

If in step S47 the selected disc is found to be loaded, step S48 isreached. In step S48, the recording/reproduction unit 5 determineswhether or not the loaded disc 1 carries the title (content data)selected in step S41. If the selected title is found recorded on theloaded disc 1, step S53 is reached.

If in step S48 the loaded disc is not found to contain the selectedtitle, then step S49 is reached. In step S49, the recording/reproductionunit 5 cancels the automatic reproduction mode set by the informationcontrol unit 2, and notifies the information control unit 2 that theselected title is not found on the loaded disc. In step S50, theinformation control unit 2 receives the notice from therecording/reproduction unit 5 and causes the display unit 9 to displayan error message screen 101 as shown in FIG. 12.

The message informs the user that the designated title (content data)has been deleted from the disc 1.

After step S50, control is returned to step S45 and the subsequent stepsare repeated as described above.

If in step S42 any title recorded on the loaded disc is found to beselected, step S51 is reached. In step S51, the information control unit2 determines whether or not the recording/reproduction unit 5 iscurrently reproducing any other title. If no other title is found beingreproduced, then step S53 is reached. If some other title is found beingreproduced in step S51, then the information control unit 2 goes to stepS52 and causes the recording/reproduction unit 5 to stop the ongoingreproduction of that title.

In step S53, the recording/reproduction unit 5 under control of theinformation control unit 2 reproduces the title selected by the user.Specifically, the recording/reproduction unit 5 starts reproducing thecontent data corresponding to the title information (“26, Title A, Nov.30, 1999” in this example) selected on the title list screen 71 shown inFIG. 9.

As described, when loaded with the disc 1, the disc information may bedisplayed in list form so that the user may specify a desired title outof the listed titles in simple operations. If the user designates anytitle to be found on an unloaded disc, the relevant cartridge ID isindicated to prompt the user to load the selected disc. In turn, theuser can readily search through the visibly indicated cartridge IDs ofthe discs at hand for the cartridge ID identifying the disc containingthe title to be reproduced.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13 are stepsdetailing a search process as another example of step S9 in FIG. 4.

Suppose that the user operating the input unit 11 has pushed the Toolbutton 57 on the library list screen 51 in FIG. 6. In that case, theinformation control unit 2, given the user's instruction, causes alibrary list tool menu 121 as shown in FIG. 14. The tool menu 121includes such user-selectable items as “Close,” “Search for Title,”“Select and Delete Entries from List,” and “Set Entry Mode.”

It is assumed here that the user selects the item “Search for Title”using the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 in FIG. 14. The informationcontrol unit 2 then goes to step S61 of FIG. 13, and causes the displayunit 9 to display a search condition setting screen 131 as shown in FIG.15 based on the user's instruction. The search condition setting screen131 includes a search condition setting area 132, a cursor 133, a StartSearch button 134, a Cancel button 135, a Cancel All button 136, an OKbutton 137, and a Back button 138.

The search condition setting area 132 includes items “Viewing Status,”“Period,” “Keyword,” and “Search Method,” any of which may be set asdesired by the user. The buttons 134 through 138 may be operatedselectively by the user. Operating the Start Search button 134 starts asearch under currently set search conditions; operating the Cancelbutton 135 cancels the search; operating the Cancel All button 136cancels all search conditions that may have been established; operatingthe OK button 137 permits setting of the item selected by the cursor133; and operating the Back button 138 terminates the search conditionsetting screen 131 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG.6).

Illustratively, if the user selects the item “Viewing Status” using thecursor 133 on the search condition setting screen 131 in FIG. 15 andpushes the OK button 137, the information control unit 2 causes apull-down menu 141 such as one shown in FIG. 16 to appear in accordancewith the user's instruction. This pull-down menu 141 has items“Unspecified” and “Unwatched,” any of which may be selected by use of acursor 142.

If the user selects the item “Period” using the cursor 133 on the searchcondition setting screen 131 in FIG. 15 and pushes the OK button 137,the information control unit 2 causes a pull-down menu 151 such as oneshown in FIG. 17 to appear in accordance with the user's instruction.This pull-down menu 151 has items “Unspecified” and “Specified,” any ofwhich may be selected by use of a cursor 152.

Suppose that, with the pull-down menu 151 being displayed, the userselects the item “Specified” by use of the cursor 152 as shown in FIG.18. In that case, an input area 161 is set on active display so that theuser may input a month and a year into the area.

Returning to step S62 of FIG. 13, the information control unit 2determines whether or not the user has set search conditions and startedthe search. That is, the information control unit 2 determines whetheror not the items in the search condition setting area 132 of the searchcondition setting screen 131 have any search conditions set therein bythe user before the Start Search button 134 is pushed. The informationcontrol unit 2 waits for any search condition to be set and for thesearch to be started.

If in step S62 the information control unit 2 determines that searchconditions have been set and that the start of search has beendesignated, then step S63 is reached. In step S63, the informationcontrol unit 2 causes the search unit 3 to search for the informationthat matches the search conditions established by the user. The searchunit 3 under control of the information control unit 2 causes thecurrent disc information management unit 6 and storage informationmanagement unit 7 to search for the information specified by the userand to send the result of the search to the information control unit 2.

In step S64, the information control unit 2 causes the display unit 9 todisplay a search result screen 171 as shown in FIG. 19 on the basis ofthe search result supplied from the search unit 3. The search resultscreen 171 includes a search result display area 172, a cursor 173, anunwatched mark 174, a Close button 175, a Search Condition button 176,an OK button 177, and a Back button 178.

The search result display area 172 gives the number of titles detected,along with a list of cartridge IDs, title numbers, title names, andrecording dates derived from the search result acquired from the searchunit 3. The cursor 173 is shown highlighting the search result “0134,26, Title A, Nov. 30, 1999” in the displayed list. The unwatched mark174 indicates that the content data to which the mark is attached haveyet to be watched.

The buttons 175 through 178 are each operated selectively by the user.Operating the Close button 175 terminates the search result screen 171and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG. 6) again;operating the Search Condition button 176 causes a search settingconfirmation screen 191 (FIG. 20) to appear; operating the OK button 177displays the title list submenu 81 (FIG. 10A or 10B); and operating theBack button 178 terminates the search result screen 171 and replaces itwith the library list screen 51 again.

As described, the user can easily search for the title information thatmatches the desired conditions. The unwatched mark 174 attached to thetitle information yet to be watched helps the user verify a viewinghistory of the titles with ease.

Illustratively, if the user pushes the Search Condition button 176 onthe search condition screen 171, the information control unit 2 causesthe display unit 9 to display the search setting confirmation screen 191as shown in FIG. 20 in accordance with the user's instruction. Thesearch setting confirmation screen 191 includes a search conditiondisplay area 192 indicating the search conditions being set, and a Closebutton 193. The search condition display area 192 shows such searchconditions as viewing status, a period, keywords, and a search method.The Back button 193 is operated selectively by the user wishing toreturn to the search result screen 171 (FIG. 19).

The search setting confirmation screen 191 thus allows the user toreconfirm the search conditions that have been set, even after thesearch is completed.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 21 are stepsdetailing a deletion process as another example of step S9 in FIG. 4.

Suppose that the user selects the item “Select and Delete Entries fromList” using the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 shown in FIG. 14. Instep S71, the information control unit 2, given the user's instruction,outputs to the display unit 9 the current information acquired from thecurrent disc information management unit 6 and the disc informationobtained from the storage information management unit 7. The displayunit 9 displays the received information in the form of a selected listentry deletion screen.

FIG. 22 depicts a display example of the selected list entry deletionscreen 201. This screen 201 includes a deletion setting area 202, acursor 203, check boxes 204, a Finalize button 205, a Cancel button 206,a View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207, a Select All button 208, aCancel Selection button 209, an OK button 210, and a Back button 211.

The deletion setting area 202 gives a list of cartridge IDs, disc names,and remaining disc capacities derived from the disc information acquiredfrom the current disc information management unit 6 and from the storageinformation management unit 7. The cursor 203 is shown highlighting thedisc information “0104, *** Special 1, 0.2 GB” in the displayed list.

The buttons 205 through 211 are each operated selectively by the user.Operating the Finalize button 205 finalizes the disc information to bedeleted; operating the Cancel button 206 terminates the selected listentry deletion screen 201 and replaces it with the library list 51 (FIG.6); operating the View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207 displays a listof disc information to be deleted; operating the Select All button 208selects all disc information for deletion; operating the CancelSelection button 209 cancels the selection being made; operating the OKbutton 210 selects the disc information to be deleted; and operating theBack button 211 terminates the selected list entry deletion screen 201and replaces it with the library list 51 again.

If the user selects a particular item using the cursor 203 in thedisplayed list on the selected list entry deletion screen 201 and pushesthe OK button 210, the information control unit 2 checks the check box204 of the selected item in accordance with the user's instruction. Ifthe user pushes the View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207, theinformation control unit 2, given the user's instruction, causes thedisplay unit 9 to display only the disc information whose check boxesare being checked at that point. The selected list entry deletion screen201 is switched to a display shown in FIG. 23, the new display giving alist of the selected disc information only. On this selected list entrydeletion screen 201, a Display All button 212 is shown substituting forthe View-Entries-for-Deletion button 207 (FIG. 22). The button 212 maybe operated selectively by the user wishing to return to the selectedlist entry deletion screen 201 of FIG. 22.

When the user pushes the Finalize button 205 on the selected list entrydeletion screen 201 of FIG. 22 or 23, the information control unit 2,given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 221 for deleting selected entries from the list as shownin FIG. 24.

The dialog screen 221 of FIG. 24 displays a message asking the user toconfirm his or her intention to delete the selected disc informationfrom the list. Also displayed are items “Yes,” “No” and “Cancel,” aswell as an OK button 223 and a Back button 224. Any one of these itemsmay be selected by the user. Selecting the item “Yes” deletes theselected disc information; selecting the item “No” leaves the discinformation undeleted; and selecting the item “Cancel” terminates thedialog screen 221 and replaces it with the library list screen 51 (FIG.6). (In the example of FIG. 24, the item “No” is being selected by thecursor 222.). The buttons 223 and 224 are each operated as needed by theuser. Operating the OK button 223 decides on the selected items, andoperating the Back button 224 terminates the dialog screen 221 andreplaces it with the library list screen 51 again.

If the user selects the item “Delete Entries from List” on the submenu61 of FIG. 8A using the cursor 62, the information control unit 2 instep S71 of FIG. 21 causes the display unit 9 to display a dialog screen231 for deleting entries from the list as shown in FIG. 25 in accordancewith the user's instruction.

The dialog screen 231 of FIG. 25 gives a message asking the user toconfirm his or her intention to delete the oldest disc information fromthe list. Also displayed are items “Yes” and “No,” as well as an OKbutton 233 and a Back button 234. One of the items may be selected bythe user operating a cursor 232. Selecting the item “Yes” deletesthe-oldest disc information, and selecting the item “No” leaves the discinformation undeleted. (In the example of FIG. 25, the item “No” isbeing selected by the cursor 232.) The buttons 233 and 234 are eachoperated selectively by the user. Operating the OK button 223 decides onthe item being selected by the cursor 232, and operating the Back button234 terminates the dialog screen 231 and replaces it with the librarylist screen 51 (FIG. 6).

In step S72 of FIG. 21, the information control unit 2 determineswhether or not the disc information to be deleted was selected by theuser and has been deleted. More specifically, the information controlunit 2 determines whether or not the user checked the check boxes 204 ofthe disc information to be deleted out of the disc information displayedin the deletion setting area 202 of the selected list entry deletionscreen 201 (FIG. 22), before pushing the Finalize button 205; or whetheror not the user operating the cursor 232 selected the item “Yes” on thedialog screen 231 (FIG. 25) for entry deletion from the list, beforepushing the OK button 233. The information control unit 2 waits for thetarget disc information to be selected and for its execution to bedesignated.

If in step S72 the disc information to be deleted is found to beselected and the deletion of the selected information finalized, thenstep S73 is reached. In step S73, the information control unit 2 causesthe storage information management unit 7 to delete the disc informationselected by the user. The storage information management unit 7 undercontrol of the information control unit 2 deletes the user-selected discinformation from the storage unit 8.

As described, the entries of disc information is displayed in list formso that the user may delete the unnecessary disc information specifiedin simple operations.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 26 are stepsdetailing a mode setting process as another example of step S9 in FIG.4.

Suppose that the user has selected the item “Set Entry Mode” byoperating the cursor 122 on the tool menu 121 in the library list ofFIG. 14. In that case, the information control unit 2 in step S81 ofFIG. 26 causes the display unit 9 to display a dialog screen 241 forsetting list entry mode as shown in FIG. 27 in accordance with theuser's instruction.

The dialog screen 241 of FIG. 27 includes a message prompting the userto set the mode in which to make a new disc entry into the list when themaximum allowable number of disc entries in the list has been exhausted.Also included in the dialog screen 241 are items “Overwrite” and “Do NotOverwrite,” as well as an OK button 243 and a Back button 244. Either ofthe two items is selected by the user positioning a cursor 242 to thedesired item. Selecting the item “Overwrite” causes the existing discinformation to be overwritten starting from the oldest entry, andselecting the item “Do Not Overwrite” cancels the overwrite operation.(In the example of FIG. 27, the item “Do Not Overwrite” is beingselected by the cursor 242.) The buttons 243 and 244 are each operatedselectively by the user. Operating the OK button 243 decides on the itembeing selected by the cursor 242, and operating the Back button 244terminates the dialog screen 241 and replaces it with the library listscreen 51 (FIG. 6) again.

In step S82, the information control unit 2 determines whether or notthe user has selected the entry mode, i.e., whether or not the user hasselected the item “Overwrite” or “Do Not Overwrite” using the cursor 242on the dialog screen 241 for list entry mode setting, before pushing theOK button 243. The information control unit 2 waits for the mode to beselected.

If in step S82 the mode is found to be selected, step S83 is reached. Instep S83, the information control unit 2 causes the storage informationmanagement unit 7 to establish the user-selected mode and displays asetting-complete message on the display unit 9.

For example, if the user selected the item “Overwrite” using the cursor242 and has pushed the OK button 243, the information control unit 2,given the user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display amessage screen 251 as shown in FIG. 28A. The message screen 251 informsthe user that when the maximum allowable number of disc entries in thelist is exhausted, the existing information will be overwritten with newdisc entries.

If the user selected the item “Do Not Overwrite” using the cursor 242and has pushed the OK button 243, the information control unit 2, giventhe user's instruction, causes the display unit 9 to display a messagescreen 252 as depicted in FIG. 28B. The message, screen 252 informs theuser that even if the maximum allowable number of disc entries in thelist is exhausted, the existing information will not be overwritten withnew disc entries.

Where the “Do Not Overwrite” mode is in effect, the existing informationwill not be overwritten automatically even if the list is exhausted. Inthat case, the information control unit 2 causes the display unit 9 todisplay a message screen 261 shown in FIG. 29 telling the user that thecapacity of the storage unit 8 has now been exhausted. With no more discentries admitted into the list, the user is urged to delete unnecessarydisc information.

Returning to FIG. 4, either step S9 or the negative result of the checkin step S8 is followed by step S10. In step S10, the information controlunit 2 determines whether or not a request is made to unload the disc 1.If no request is found to be made for unloading the disc 1, step S13 isreached. If a request is found to be made for unloading the disc 1, stepS11 is reached. In step S11, the information control unit 2 causes thecurrent disc information management unit 6 to read the currentinformation from the loaded disc 1. That is, the information controlunit 2 acquires the latest information in step S11 considering that theinformation on the disc 1 has been updated following recording orediting operations.

In step S12, the information control unit 2 causes the storageinformation management unit 7 to perform a duplicate storage processbased on the current information acquired from the current discinformation management unit 6.

Details of the duplicate storage process will now be described withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 30.

In step S91, the storage information management unit 7 stores the TOC,part of the acquired current information, into the temp TOC (block 104)of the temp area in the storage unit 8. In step S92, the storageinformation management unit 7 stores the block that contains changeddisc information into the temp disc block (block 105) of the temp area.As mentioned above, the disc information is found in either the block 1or the block 2 of the storage area; the information is read from one ofthe blocks and stored into the temp disc block.

In step S93, the storage information management unit 7 determineswhether or not the number of titles included in the changed discinformation is 100 or less. If the number of titles is found to be 100or less, step S94 is reached. In step S94, the storage informationmanagement unit 7 stores the title information into the temp title 1(block 106) of the temp area.

If in step S93 the number of titles included in the changed discinformation is not found to be 100 or less, i.e., if the title count is101 or higher, then step S95 is reached. In step S95, the storageinformation management unit 7 stores the title information constituting100 titles into the temp title 1 of the temp area. Step S95 is followedby step S96 in which the title information constituting the excesstitles (from the 101st title on) is stored into the temp title 2 (block107).

Step S94 or step S96 is followed by step S97 in which the storageinformation management unit 7 stores location information on the storeddata into the temp header (block 103) of the temp area. In step S98, Thestorage information management unit 7 reads the TOC from the temp TOC(block 104) in the temp area and writes the retrieved TOC to the TOC(block 0) in the storage area. (That is, the temp TOC is copied from thetemp area to the TOC of the storage area.)

In step S99, the storage information management unit 7, based on thedata location information held in the temp header, copies the temp discblock (block 105) in the temp area to a disc block (block 1 or 2) of thestorage area.

In step S100, the storage information management unit 7 in keeping withthe data location information held in the temp header copies the temptitle 1 in the temp area to a title block (e.g., block 103) in thestorage area. If the temp title 2 in the temp area contains the extratitle information, that information is copied to another title block(e.g., block 104) in the storage area.

In step S101, the storage information management unit 7 clears the tempheader in the temp area. From step S101, control is returned to step S13of FIG. 4.

In step S13, the information control unit 2 determines whether or notthe digital video recorder is turned off in response to the user'soperation. If the apparatus is not found to be switched off, step S8 isreached again and the subsequent steps are repeated. If in step S13power is found removed from the apparatus, the process is terminated.

As described, the digital video recorder embodying this invention hasthe storage area and temp area established in the storage unit 8. Whenthe loaded disc is unloaded, the information written to the disc istemporarily stored into the temp area. The information is later copiedto the storage area. When copying of the information to the storage areahas all been completed, the temp header in the temp area is cleared.Next time the disc information is read from the storage unit 8, areference is made to the temp header to see whether its information hasbeen cleared. If the temp header is found to be cleared, that means theinformation held in the storage area is valid. If the temp header is notfound cleared, that means the information retained in the temp area isvalid. In either case, the valid information is always retrieved fromthe storage area or from the temp area. This ensures data consistency.

Because the disc information and title information held in the storageunit 8 are displayed in list form, the user finds it easy to search fordesired information, give instructions for reproduction, or sortinformation.

In the above processes, the library list is displayed in response to theuser's instruction. Alternatively, the library list may be displayedautomatically whenever the digital video recorder is switched on,regardless of the user's instruction.

In this embodiment, not only the list of disc information and titleinformation but also more detailed information may be displayed. Forexample, if the user pushes the Tool button 76 on the title list screen71 (FIG. 9), the information control unit 2, given the user'sinstruction, causes the display unit 9 to display the title list toolmenu 271 as shown in FIG. 31. The tool menu 271 includes user-selectableitems “Close” and “Disc Information.”

Illustratively, if the user selects the item “Disc Information” using acursor 272 on the tool menu 271 of FIG. 31, the information control unit2 outputs to the display unit 9 detailed information branching from thedisc information based on the user's instruction. In turn, the outputunit 9 displays a disc information dialog screen 281 as shown in FIG.32. The dialog screen 281 includes detailed information 282 branchingfrom the disc information, a Close button 283, and a Back button 284.

The detailed information 282 includes a disc name, a title count, a discID, recording dates, and a remaining disc storage capacity. The buttons283 and 284 are each operated selectively by the user. Operating theClose button 283 or Back button 284 restores the library list screen 51(FIG. 6).

The dialog screen 281 of FIG. 32 also appears when the item “DiscInformation” is selected in the library list submenu 61 indicated inFIG. 8A.

In the manner described, not only the list of disc information and titleinformation but also detailed information can be readily displayed.

In the foregoing description, the invention was shown applied to thedigital video recorder which has the disc 1 loaded in its drive, whichreads disc information and title information from the loaded disc, andwhich stores the retrieved information successively into the storageunit 8. However, that digital video recorder is only an example and isnot limitative of the invention. The invention may also be appliedextensively to other electronic apparatuses capable of being loaded withthe disc 1.

It was also shown that the disc information and title information arewritten directly to the disc 1. The items of information thus writtenare associated with previously recorded disc IDs on the disc forinformation management purposes. Alternatively, apart from the discinformation and title information written to the disc 1, managementinformation unique to each digital video recorder (or to each user) maybe input to a built-in HDD (hard disc drive) of the apparatus formanagement purposes.

Where no disc 1 is loaded in the digital video recorder, theabove-described embodiment displays a message prompting the user to loadthe selected disc. Alternatively, content data may be retainedtemporarily on the HDD. The content data stored for the moment are thenretrieved and written to the disc 1 that is subsequently loaded.

In a home network environment according to the invention where aplurality of AV apparatuses are interconnected and where the selecteddisc is loaded into one of the configured apparatuses, it is possible tocheck the other apparatuses to see whether or not any one of them hascontent data to be recorded to the loaded disc.

What follows is a description of such an AV system practiced as a secondembodiment of this invention. In the description that follows, thecomponent parts which have their functionally equivalent counterpartsincluded in the digital video recorder of the first embodiment aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters, and theirdescriptions are omitted where redundant.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of the AV system embodying this invention. Inthat AV system, digital video recorders 301-1 through 301-3 areinterconnected via a network 302 and are capable of having discs 1-1through 1-3 loaded therein respectively.

The digital video recorders 301-1 through 301-3 reproduce content datasuch as pictures and sounds from the discs 1-1 through 1-3; recordcontent data to these discs; or each store temporarily into a hard discdrive (HDD) 330 (FIG. 34) the content data to be recorded to a disc sothat when the selected disc 1 is loaded, the stored content data may beretrieved from the HDD 330 and recorded to that disc.

Each of the digital video recorders 301-1 through 301-3 admits from theloaded discs 1-1 through 1-3 management information specific to eachrecorder (local disc IDs, local disc names, etc.) to create a discmanagement table. Disc management is carried out on the basis of suchdisc management tables (details will be discussed later).

The network 302 may be of a wired type (based on IEEE (Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 or USB (Universal Serial Bus)standards) or a wireless type (based on Bluetooth (trademark) criteria).The network 302 may also be the Internet or some other networkarrangement.

In the description that follows, the digital video recorders 301-1through 301-3 may be simply referred to as the digital video recorder301 if there is no specific need to distinguish between them. Likewise,the discs 1-1 through 1-3 may be simply called the disc 1 if there is noneed to distinguish between them.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram presenting electrical connections in thedigital video recorder 301.

In the setup of FIG. 34, a tuner 312 receives TV broadcast waves inputvia an antenna 311 and demodulates the broadcast waves into a compositevideo signal and an analog audio signal for output to a line selector316. A V input terminal 313 admits the composite video signal from theoutside; an S input terminal 314 receives a component video signalderived from what is known as YC separation; and an audio input terminal315 admits the audio signal. The signals input to these terminals areforwarded to the line selector 316.

The line selector 316, based on the user's changeover settings, selectsthe specified video and audio signals out of those coming from the tuner312 and from the terminals 313 through 315. The selected audio signal isoutput to an audio A/D converter 322, and the selected video signal issent to a Y/C separation circuit 317.

The Y/C separation circuit 317 separates the luminance component fromthe chrominance component in the supplied video signal for conversioninto component signals. The converted component signals are output to anNTSC (National Television System Committee) decoder 318. If the suppliedvideo signal is the component video signal coming from the S inputterminal 314, no separation process will be carried out because theluminance and chrominance components have already been separated in thesignal.

The NTSC decoder 318 performs such processes as A/D (analog to digital)conversion and chroma coding on the video signal in which the luminancecomponent has been separated from the chrominance component, and outputsthe resulting digital component data (simply called the video datahereunder) to a pre-video signal processing circuit 320. The NTSCdecoder 318 further supplies a sync control circuit 319 with a clockgenerated on the basis of a horizontal sync signal in the input videosignal, with a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signal derivedfrom a synchronous separation process, and with a field discriminationsignal. The sync control circuit 319 converts the sync signals from theNTSC decoder 318 into timing signals that address various circuits.These timing signals are fed to their corresponding circuits includingan MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) video encoder 321.

The pre-video signal processing circuit 320 carries out diverse videosignal processes including filtering on the input video data. The videodata thus processed are supplied to the MPEG video encoder or to apost-video signal processing circuit 333.

The MPEG video encoder 321 subjects the video data to MPEG encoding soas to generate an MPEG video stream. The generated MPEG video stream isfed to a multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. The MPEGcompression method used here is only an example; some other suitablecompression scheme may be adopted alternatively.

The audio A/D converter 322 converts the audio signal coming from theline selector 316 into digital data which are then sent either to anMPEG audio encoder 323 or to an audio D/A converter 338. The MPEG audioencoder 323 subjects the input audio data to MPEG encoding in order togenerate an MPEG audio stream. The MPEG audio stream thus generated issupplied to the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. As withthe video data, the MPEG compression method used here is only anexample; some other suitable compression scheme may be adoptedalternatively.

A digital input/output terminal 324 is connected illustratively to anexternal IRD (integrated receiver-decoder) via an IEEE 1394 interface orother suitable digital interface arrangements. From the external device,a transport stream (TS) that is subject to MPEG system requirements isinput through the terminal 324. A digital interface 325 provides dataformat conversion between the data transmission format of the digitalvideo recorder 301 and that of the digital interface. More specifically,the digital interface 325 converts in format the transport stream comingfrom the digital input/output terminal 324, and feeds the convertedtransport stream to the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326.

At the time of recording, the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit326 packetizes the MPEG video stream coming from the MPEG video encoder321, the MPEG audio stream from the MPEG audio encoder 323, and variouskinds of control information fed from a system controller 327; andmultiplexes the packets into a transport stream subject to MPEG systemrequirements. If a transport stream is input via the digitalinput/output terminal 324, the multiplexing/separation/selection circuit326 updates control data as needed before outputting the transportstream.

At the time of reproduction, the multiplexing/separation/selectioncircuit 326 extracts PES (packetized elementary stream) packets from thetransport stream retrieved from the HDD 330 and supplies the extractedpackets to an MPEG AV decoder 332. If a transport stream is inputthrough the digital input/output terminal 324, themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326 updates control data asneeded and outputs the TS retrieved from the HDD 330.

The system controller 327, based on the input signals corresponding tothe user's operation performed on the input unit 11, carries outsuitable control programs held in a program memory 328B within a memory328. Through the program execution, the system controller 327 generatescontrol data to be multiplexed into a transport stream, controls drivecontrollers 329 and 331, and controls the digital video recorder 301 asa whole.

The system controller 327, also based on the signals reflecting theuser's operation performed on the input unit 11, references or updates adata management memory 328A in the memory 328; generates file systemmanagement information for the HDD 330 and transport stream datamanagement information, before recording the generated managementinformation to a data management information storage area 361 (FIG. 36);records the transport stream to a real data storage area 362; or readsinformation or data as needed from the data management informationstorage area 361 or from the real data storage area 362. The systemcontroller 327 gains access to the HDD 330 or to the transport stream inaccordance with the file system management information and datamanagement information. These items of information are managed in theform of a disc management table (FIG. 37) in the data management memory328A.

The memory 328 is illustratively an electrically rewritable nonvolatilememory made up of the data management memory 328A and program memory328B. The data management memory 328A accommodates the disc managementtable, to be described later with reference to FIG. 37. The programmemory 328B holds the control programs necessary for the digital videorecorder 301 to carry out various processes.

At the time of recording, the drive controller 329 writes to the HDD 330the transport stream input successively from themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. At the time ofreproduction, the drive controller 329 reads the transport stream fromthe HDD 330 and feeds the retrieved transport stream to themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326.

The drive controller 331, upon recording, writes to the disc 1 thetransport stream input successively from themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. Upon reproduction, thedrive controller 331 reads the transport stream from the disc 1 andfeeds the retrieved transport stream to themultiplexing/separation/selection circuit 326. The drive controller 331also reads the disc ID and disc information from the disc 1 and sendswhat is retrieved to the system controller 327.

The MPEG AV decoder 332 separates the input PES packets into MPEG videodata and MPEG audio data which are subjected to an MPEG decoding processeach. Following the decoding process, the MPEG AV decoder 332 suppliesbase-band video data to the post-video signal processing circuit 333 andbase-band audio data to the audio D/A converter 338.

The post-video signal processing circuit 333 performs such processes asswitchover between the video data coming from the MPEG AV decoder 332and the video data from the pre-video signal processing circuit 320,superimposing of video data, and filtering, before feeding the processeddata to an OSD (on-screen display) unit 334. The OSD unit 334 generatesgraphics for video display, superimposes the generated graphics onto thevideo data, and supplies the processed data to an NTSC encoder 335.

The NTSC encoder 335 converts the input video data into digitalcomposite data prior to a D/A conversion process whereby an analogcomposite signal is generated. The analog composite signal is output tothe display unit 9 (FIG. 35) through a V output terminal 336.Alternatively, the NTSC encoder 335 subjects the input video data(digital component data) to D/A conversion so as to generate an analogcomponent signal. The analog component signal is output to the displayunit 9 through an S output terminal 337.

The audio D/A converter 338 selectively inputs either the audio datafrom the MPEG AV decoder 332 or the audio data from the audio A/Dconverter 322, and subjects the input audio data to D/A conversion inorder to generate an analog audio signal. The analog audio signal isoutput to the speakers 10 (FIG. 35) through an audio output terminal339.

With the digital video recorder 301, as described above, various videosignals are input from the tuner 312, from the input terminals 313 and314, or from the digital interface 325. At the time of recording, one ofthese signals is selectively turned into the transport stream which iswritten to the real data storage area 362 (FIG. 36) on the HDD 330. Uponreproduction, the transport stream output from the HDD 330 is decodedand output through the V output terminal 336 or S output terminal 337.Alternatively the TS is output as digital data through the digitalinput/output terminal 324.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram outlining the functions of the systemcontroller 327. These functions are implemented when the systemcontroller 327 executes appropriate control programs held in the programmemory 328B.

An information control unit 351, based on the input signalscorresponding to the user's operation performed on the input unit 11,controls the current disc information management unit 353 and storageinformation management unit 354 and supplies the input content data (TS)to the current disc information management unit 353 or to the storageinformation management unit 354. The information control unit 351further causes a communication unit 352 to conduct communications withother digital video recorders.

The information control unit 351 references the data management memory328A in accordance with the disc ID of the disc 1 sent from the currentdisc information management unit 353. In so doing, the informationcontrol unit 351 retrieves from the disc management table certaininformation corresponding to the disc ID, or updates the disc managementtable itself.

The current disc information management unit 353 acquires the disc IDand disc information from the loaded disc 1 and feeds what is acquiredto the information control unit 351. The storage information managementunit 354 writes to the HDD 330 the data management information acquiredfrom the information control unit 351, or reads data managementinformation from the HDD 330 and supplies what is retrieved to theinformation control unit 351.

Whereas the disc ID for the disc 1 was described above as previouslyrecorded (non-changing ID) in connection with the first embodiment ofthis invention, the unchanging aspect of disc IDs is not mandatory forthe second embodiment. The user of the second embodiment may decide on adesired ID and attach it to the disc 1. In such a case, theuser-selected ID is written to a user-writable area on the disc 1.

The HDD 330 is constituted illustratively by a data managementinformation storage area 361 and a real data storage area 362 as shownin FIG. 36. The data management information placed in the datamanagement information storage area 361 is associated with the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A as well as with thereal data (e.g., TS) held in the real data storage area 362.

FIG. 37 schematically depicts relations between the data managementmemory 328A and the HDD 330.

As shown in FIG. 37, the disc management table retained in the datamanagement memory 328A has disc names, additional information, flags,and recording IDs stored in association with the disc IDs of the discs1. The disc ID recorded on each disc 1 is an identifier attached to thedisc for identification purposes. Likewise the disc name, also recordedon each disc 1, is the name given to the disc in question.

The additional information on each disc illustratively includes a dataformat, a creator's name, dates of data creation, a remaining recordablecapacity, a local disc ID, a local disc name, and information abouttitles (i.e., content data) recorded on this disc. The local disc ID isa disc identifier which differs from the disc ID previously recorded onthe disc 1 and which may be furnished to the disc 1 by each individualdigital video recorder 301. The local disc name is a disc name whichdiffers from the disc name previously written on the disc 1 and whichmay be given to the disc 1 by each digital video recorder 301.

The flag indicates whether or not the content data to be recorded to thedisc 1 corresponding to this disc ID are being retained on the HDD 330of the digital video recorder 301. If the flag is “0,” that means thecontent data to be recorded to the disc 1 are not stored on the HDD 330;if the flag is “1,” that means the content data to be recorded to thedisc 1 are retained on the HDD 330.

The recording ID, information recorded only if the flag is “1,” servesas the identifier of the content data to be recorded to the disc 1. TheHDD 330 manages its content data based on the recording ID. Where thereexist a plurality of titles of content data to be recorded to the disc1, the recording ID subsumes recording priorities. In the example ofFIG. 37, priorities 1 through 10 are shown established. The number ofpriorities may be changed as needed.

The data management information held in the data management informationstorage area 361 includes an entry cluster, a sector number, a filename, a recording date, and a data size stored in association with eachrecording ID linked to the disc management table in the data managementmemory 328A.

The entry cluster is a cluster number denoting the location in the realdata storage area 362 of the cluster which contains the leading data ofthe file (content data) corresponding to the recording ID of interest.The sector number points to that sector in the real data storage area362 which contains a file index of the file in question. The file namerepresents the target file held in the real data storage area 362. Therecording date indicates the date on which the file in question wasrecorded. The data size denotes the size of all data included in thefile of interest.

That is, the target file is written to the real data storage area 362starting from the cluster whose number is designated by the entrycluster included in the data management information in the datamanagement information storage area 361.

As described, when the recording ID is determined by the systemcontroller 327, the corresponding file is recorded to the real datastorage area 362. Concurrently, the data management informationassociated with the recording ID in question is written to the datamanagement information storage area 361.

While the system controller 327 was shown determining recording IDs inthe foregoing description, this is not limitative of the invention.Alternatively, it is possible to read the entry cluster containing thedesired file from the data management information in the data managementinformation storage area 361 and to write the retrieved information tothe disc management table. FIG. 38 shows typical relations between thedata management memory 328A and the HDD 330, in effect in thealternative case above. As illustrated, the data management informationmay be managed in association with entry clusters without determiningrecording IDs.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 39 is theroutine process carried out by the digital video recorder of FIG. 35.This process is executed by the system controller 327 carrying outsuitable control programs retrieved from the program memory 328B.

In step S111, the information control unit 351 causes the current discinformation management unit 353 to determine whether or not the disc 1is being loaded in the recorder. The information control unit 351 waitsfor the disc 1 to be loaded. If in step S1 the disc 1 is found to beloaded, step S112 is reached. In step S112, the information control unit351 causes the current disc management unit 353 to read from the loadeddisc 1 its disc ID and disc information (data format, creator's name,date of data creation, remaining recordable capacity, etc.). Byreferencing the disc management table in the data management memory328A, the information control unit 351 checks to see whether or not thedisc ID read by the current disc information management unit 353 hasalready been recorded.

In step S113, the information control unit 351 determines whether or notthe disc is one which has been previously loaded, on the basis of theresult of the check in step S112. More specifically, the informationcontrol unit 351 determines whether or not the disc ID read from thedisc 1 is being stored in the disc management table. If the disc isfound to have been previously loaded, step S114 is reached.

In step S114, the information control unit 351, based on the discinformation read in step S112, updates the existing information in thedisc management table within the data management memory 328A. If theloaded disc 1 had new content data recorded (added) thereto by someother digital video recorder, the date of data creation and theremaining recordable capacity must have been changed as a result of theadditional recording. Given that possibility, the disc management tableis updated every time the disc 1 is loaded.

If in step S113 the loaded disc is not found to have been loadedpreviously, i.e., if the disc ID retrieved from the disc 1 is not foundin the disc management table, then step S115 is reached. In step S115,the information control unit 351 adds information to the disc managementtable in the data management memory 328A in keeping with the disc ID andthe disc information retrieved in step S112.

As described, whenever the disc 1 is loaded, a check is made to see ifthe disc in question is a previously loaded one. The disc managementtable is updated in keeping with the result of the check. As needed, theuser may furnish the disc 1 with a local disc ID and a local disc namespecific to the digital video recorder at hand. These items ofinformation are stored as additional information into the discmanagement table.

For example, in the disc management table of FIG. 37, the disc 1 havinga disc ID “0001” is given a disc name “disc A.” On the digital videorecorder 301-1, the disc 1 may be supplemented with a local disc ID“0010” and a local disc name “Father”; on the digital video recorder301-2, the disc 1 may be additionally furnished with a local disc ID“0005” and a local disc name “Papa.”

When the disc 1 having the disc ID “0001” is loaded into the digitalvideo recorder 301-1, a reference is made to the disc management table(in the data management memory 328A) in accordance with the disc ID. Thereference allows the corresponding additional information (local disc ID“0010” and local disc name “Father”) to be retrieved from the table.When the disc 1 having the disc ID “0001” is loaded into the digitalvideo recorder 301-2, the disc management table is referenced on thebasis of the disc ID. The corresponding additional information (localdisc ID “0005” and local disc name “Papa”) is then retrieved from thetable.

In the manner described, the local disc ID and local disc name unique toeach digital video recorder are managed using the disc management tablein the data management memory 328A.

FIG. 40 shows a display example of a disc information screen 371generated on the basis of the disc management table in the datamanagement memory 328A. In the description that follows, the items whichhave their functionally equivalent counterparts included in the librarylist screen 51 of FIG. 6 are designated by like reference numerals, andtheir descriptions are omitted where redundant.

Unlike the library list screen 51 in FIG. 6, the library list displayarea 52 on the disc information screen 371 does not show the disc ID ordisc name written to the disc 1. Instead, the library list display area52 indicates local disc IDs and local disc names which have beenfurnished anew by this digital video recorder 301 and are distinguishedthereby.

In the example of FIG. 40, a disc 1 having a disc ID “0007” is furnishedwith a local disc ID “0001”; and a disc 1 having a disc ID “0104” isprovided with a local disc ID “0002” and, apart from the disc name “***Special 1” (see FIG. 6), is supplemented with a local disc name“Documentary.” Likewise, each disc 1 with a different disc ID isfurnished with a local disc ID and a local disc name which have beenconceived and provided by the user as desired.

The display sequence setting area 55 shows items “Number,” “Name,”“Remaining Capacity,” and “Local.” The displayed information is sortedby one of these items which is selected by the user. In the example ofFIG. 40, the displayed information is shown sorted by local disc ID.

As described, the disc IDs written previously on the discs 1 and localdisc IDs attached anew to the discs 1 by individual digital videorecorders 301 may be displayed side by side, in mixed fashion.Alternatively, the disc IDs alone may be listed as shown in FIG. 6. Asanother alternative, the local disc IDs alone may be displayed (notshown). As a further alternative, the disc names recorded previously onthe discs 1 and local disc names given anew to the discs 1 by individualdigital video recorders 301 may be displayed in mixed fashion.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 41 is thecontent recording process carried out by the digital video recorder 301of FIG. 35.

In step S121, the information control unit 351 determines whether or notthe user has requested recording of content data. The informationcontrol unit 351 waits for the recording to be requested. If in stepS121 the recording of content data is found requested, step S122 isreached. In step S122, the information control unit 351 references thedisc management table in the data management memory 328A and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display a content recording setting screen 401 basedon the referenced table, as shown in FIG. 42. The content recordingsetting screen 401 includes a list display area 402, a loaded disc mark403, a cursor 404, an OK button 405, and a Cancel button 406.

The list display area 402 gives a list of local disc IDs, cartridge IDs(part of the disc IDs written on discs 1), and local disc names derivedfrom the disc information held in the disc management table. In thisexample, the cursor 404 is shown highlighting the disc information “0003(local disc ID), 0134 (cartridge ID), My Favorite *** (local discname).” The loaded disc mark 403 indicates that the disc 1 having thedisc information “0003, 0134, My Favorite ***” is being loaded.

The buttons 405 and 406 are each selected by the user operating theinput unit 11. Selecting the OK button 405 confirms the recording to thedisc 1 corresponding to the disc information selected by-the cursor 404.Selecting the Cancel button 406 cancels the recording.

Returning to step S123 in FIG. 41, the information control unit 351causes the recording/reproduction unit 5 to determine whether or not thedisc 1 to which to record the content data is being loaded.Illustratively, it is assumed that the disc 1 having the discinformation “0003, 0134, My Favorite ***” is loaded as indicated by theloaded disc mark 403 on the content recording setting screen 401 of FIG.42. A check is then made to see whether or not the recording to thatdisc 1 is requested.

If in step S123 the disc 1 to which to record the content data is foundloaded, step S124 is reached. In step S124, the recording/reproductionunit 5 records to the loaded disc 1 the content data supplied from theinformation control unit 351.

If in step S123 the disc 1 to which to record the content data is notfound loaded, i.e., if a request is made to record the content data to adisc other than the one indicated by the loaded disc mark 403 on thecontent recording setting screen 401 of FIG. 42, then step S125 isreached. In step S125, the information control unit 351 updates the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A. More specifically,with the content data stored temporarily on the HDD 330, the informationcontrol unit 351 determines a recording ID linked to the data managementinformation storage unit 361 of the HDD 330. With the recording IDestablished in the disc management table, the flag is set to “1.”

In step S125, the information control unit 351 causes the display unit 9to display as needed a dialog screen 411 such as one shown in FIG. 43.The dialog screen 411 indicates a “Yes” button 412 and a “No” button413, along with a message prompting the user to determine whether or notthe content data are to be recorded temporarily to the HDD 330. The userselects either the “Yes” button 412 to let the content data be recordedtemporarily to the HDD 330, or the “No” button 413 to cancel therecording.

That is, when the recording disc is not loaded, the user is allowed tomake one of two choices: either to have the content data recordedtemporarily on the hard disc, or to cancel the recording.

If the “Yes” button 412 is selected by the user, step S126 is reached inwhich the information control unit 351 causes the storage informationmanagement unit 354 to record (store) temporarily the content data ofinterest to the HDD 330. The content data to be recorded eventually tothe selected disc are then recorded for the moment to the real datastorage area 362 of the HDD 330.

In step S127, the information control unit 351 updates the applicableadditional information (date of data creation, remaining recordablecapacity, etc.) in the disc management table within the data managementmemory 328A following the recording of new content data. When step S126has been carried out, the information control unit 351 records theappropriate entry cluster (i.e., storage location in the real datastorage area 362), sector number, file name, and data size as datamanagement information into the data management information storage area361.

If the “No” button 412 is selected on the dialog screen 411 of FIG. 43,the information control unit 351 causes another dialog screen 421 toappear as shown in FIG. 44. This dialog screen 421 indicates a messageprompting the user to load a particular disc, along with the disc name422 of that disc (e.g., “0134, *** Hamasaki,” with the local disc name“My Favorite ***”).

The user is then able to easily find the target disc to be loaded bylooking up the cartridge ID (“0134” in this case) visibly indicated oneach disc 1. When the appropriate disc 1 is loaded, step S124 of FIG. 41is reached and the subsequent process is carried out as discussed above.The user selects the “Cancel” button 423 when canceling the recordingboth to the HDD 330 and to the disc 1.

As described, if recording of specific content data is carried out bythe user and if the applicable disc to which to make the recording isnot loaded, the content data in question are stored temporarily on theHDD 330. In that case, the disc ID and the content data (recording ID)are associated with each other when recorded to the disc managementtable. When the appropriate disc 1 is later loaded, the disc ID isretrieved from the loaded disc 1 and the disc management table isreferenced on the basis of the retrieved disc ID. If the reference tothe table reveals that the content data associated with the disc ID arebeing retained on the HDD 330, either the user is notified thereof asneeded, or the content data are automatically recorded to the disc 1from the HDD 330.

What follows is a description, with reference to the flowchart of FIG.45, of the recording process that takes place when an appropriate disc 1to which to record content data is loaded following the above-describedtemporary storage of the content data in question onto the HDD 330preparatory to their recording to the disc 1.

In step S141, the information control unit 351 causes the current discinformation management unit 353 to determine whether or not the disc 1is loaded into the recorder. The information control unit 351 waits forthe disc 1 to be loaded. If in step S141 the disc 1 is found to beloaded, step S142 is reached. In step S142, the information control unit351 causes the current disc information management unit 353 to read thedisc ID and disc information from the loaded disc 1.

In step S143, the information control unit 351 references the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A on the basis of thedisc ID retrieved in step S142 by the current disc informationmanagement unit 353, in order to determine whether or not the loadeddisc 1 is associated with the content data held temporarily on the HDD330. More specifically, if the flag corresponding to the retrieved discID is found set to “1” in the disc management table, that is indicativethat the content data to be recorded to the disc 1 are retained on theHDD 330. For example, if the retrieved disc ID is “0002,” the flagcorresponding to that disc ID is “1” in the disc management table shownin FIG. 37. This allows the information control unit 351 to determinethat the content data to be recorded to the loaded disc 1 reside on theHDD 330.

If in step S143 the loaded disc 1 is not found to be the disc with whichthe content data temporarily recorded on the HDD 330 are associated,step S148 is reached. If in step S143 the loaded disc 1 is found to bethe disc that the content data temporarily retained on the HDD 330 areassociated with, then step S144 is reached. In step S144, theinformation control unit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 431 as depicted in FIG. 46.

The dialog screen 431 indicates a message informing the user that theHDD 330 retains data to be recorded to the loaded disc. Also indicatedalong with the message are a Record button 432, a Delete button 433, anda Change button 434, any one of which may be selected by the user.Selecting the Record button 432 causes the content data in question tobe read from the HDD 330 and recorded to the disc 1; selecting theDelete button 433 deletes the content data from the HDD 330; andselecting the Change button 434 allows the content data to be recordedfrom the HDD 330 to a different disc.

Returning to step S145 in FIG. 45, the information control unit 351determines which of the three buttons (Record button 432, Delete button433, and Change button 434) is selected by the user on the dialog screen431 shown in FIG. 46. If the Record button 432 is found to be selectedby the user, step S146 is reached.

In step S146, the information control unit 351 causes the storageinformation management unit 354 to read the content data which have beenretained temporarily in the real data storage area 361 of the HDD 330and which are to be recorded to the disc 1. The information control unit351 then supplies the recording/reproduction unit 5 with the contentdata acquired from the storage information management unit 354 andcauses the recording/reproduction unit 5 to record the content data tothe disc 1. After the content data have been read from the HDD 330 andrecorded to the disc 1, the data in question are deleted automaticallyfrom the HDD 330. Alternatively, the content data may be deletedmanually in response to the user's instruction.

If in step S145 the user is found to have selected the Delete button433, step S147 is reached. In step S147, the information control unit351 causes the storage information management unit 354 to delete thecontent data which have been retained temporarily in the real datastorage area 361 of the HDD 330 and which were to be recorded to thedisc 1.

If in step S145 the user is found to have selected the Change button434, step S148 is reached. In step S148, the information control unit351 causes the display unit 9 to display a disc change screen 441 asshown in FIG. 47. The disc change screen 441 includes a list displayarea 442, a cursor 443, a Record button 444, and a Cancel button 445.

The list display area 441 gives a list of local disc IDs, cartridge IDs,and local disc names derived from the disc information stored in thedisc management table. In the displayed list, the cursor 443 is shownhighlighting the disc information “0005, 1511, No Name.” The disc 1corresponding to the disc information currently selected by the cursor443 is the disc to which to record the content data. If it is desired toreplace the currently selected disc with a different disc to which tomake the recording, the user may move the cursor 443 to the desired discinformation and push the Record button 444. The user may cancel the discchanging operation by pushing the Cancel button 445.

Returning to step S148 in FIG. 45, the information control unit 351updates the applicable additional information (date of data creation,remaining recordable capacity, etc.) and the flag in the disc managementtable within the data management memory 328A following the recording ofthe content data to the disc 1 or the deletion from the HDD 330 of thedata that might have been recorded to the disc 1.

The content data to be written to the disc 1 are recorded in associationwith the disc IDs to the disc management table, as described. This makesit easy to determine, whenever a disc 1 is loaded, whether any contentdata to be recorded to that disc 1 are stored on the HDD 330 byreferencing the disc management table based on the disc ID retrievedfrom the loaded disc.

It was shown that the dialog screen 431 of FIG. 46 appears if the disc 1is loaded while the content data to be loaded to that disc 1 have beenheld on the HDD 330. Alternatively, it is possible not to display themessage of FIG. 46 and to let the content data be recorded automaticallyfrom the HDD 330 to the disc 1 when the latter is loaded.

Where there exist a plurality of titles of content data to be recordedto the disc 1, these titles may be assigned priorities with regard totheir recording to the disc 1. For example, suppose that the userselects the “Yes” button 412 on the dialog screen 411 of FIG. 43displayed when the recording of content data to an unloaded disc isrequested, and that other content data to be recorded to the requesteddisc have already been held temporarily in the real data storage area362 of the HDD 330. In that case, the user may prioritize the contentdata about to be recorded and the previously recorded content data.

How such a priority setting process is performed will now be describedwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 48. This process is started ifthe user selects the “Yes” button 412 on the dialog screen 41 of FIG. 43where content data to be recorded to the disc in question already existin the real data storage area 362 of the HDD 330.

In step S161, the information control unit 351 references the discmanagement table in the data management memory 328A and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display a priority setting screen 451 as shown in FIG.49 in accordance with the referenced table. The priority setting screen451 includes a Priority button 452 along with a message indicating thatthere exist a plurality of titles of content data to be recorded to theselected disc.

In the example of FIG. 49, priority 1 is assigned to the content datawith a title A, and priority 2 is allotted to the content data with atitle B. These titles have already been stored on the HDD 330 as contentdata to be recorded to the selected disc. By viewing the prioritysetting screen 451 on display, the user considers a suitable priorityfor the content data about to be temporarily recorded to the HDD 330,and selects the Priority button 452 to set the priority.

When the Priority button 452 is selected by the user, the informationcontrol unit 351 causes a pull-down screen 461 to appear as illustratedin FIG. 50. This pull-down screen 461 indicates items “1,” through “3”representative of priorities. The item “2” is shown selected by thecursor 462 on the screen. The user may move the cursor 462 to decide onthe preferred priority that is set for the content data about to bestored temporarily onto the HDD 330.

Returning to step S162 in FIG. 48, the information control unit 351determines whether or not the priority of the content data about to berecorded has been set by the user. More specifically, a check is made tosee whether or not the Priority button 452 is selected on the prioritysetting screen 451 of FIG. 49, whether or not the pull-down screen 461of FIG. 50 is displayed, and whether or not the desired priority isselected using the cursor 462. The information control unit 351 waitsfor the priority to be set.

If in step S162 the priority is found to be set for the content dataabout to be recorded, then step S163 is reached. In step S163, theinformation control unit 351 updates the applicable recording ID in thedisc management table within the data management memory 328A.

What follows is a more detailed description of the priority settingprocess, with reference to examples in FIGS. 51A and 51B of the discmanagement table within the data management memory 328A. For purpose ofsimplification and illustration, each recording ID is shown with itshigh-order three bits supplemented by low-order three bits constitutingthe priority (e.g., “0x001001” is made up of a recording ID “001”+apriority “001”). Alternatively, some other suitable recording ID formatmay be adopted as long as it allows each title of content data to bedesignated uniquely.

Illustratively, for the disc 1 with the disc ID “0134” and the disc name“*** Hamasaki,” priority 1 is assigned to the content data having arecording ID “0x001001” and priority 2 to the content data having arecording ID “0x010010” as shown in FIG. 51A. In other words, if theselected disc is loaded, the content data with the recording ID“0x01001001” will be first recorded to the disc 1, followed by thecontent data with the recording ID “0x010010.”

Suppose that, with two titles of content data already stored temporarilyon the HDD 330 preparatory to their recording to the selected disc,another title of content data to be eventually recorded to the selecteddisc is about to be written temporarily to the HDD 330, and that theuser sets priority 2 for the newly added title of content data (withrecording ID “011”) about to be stored. In that case, as shown in FIG.51B, priority 2 is allotted to the title of content data having therecording ID “0x011010” (i.e., recording-ID “011”+priority “010”). Thattitle of content data (with recording ID “0x010010”) which waspreviously assigned priority 2 is now assigned priority 3, with therecording ID changed to “0x010011” (i.e., recording ID “010”+priority“011”). (The low-order three bits are updated following the change ofpriorities.) If writing the new content data with priority 2 to the HDD330 has exhausted the latter's recordable capacity, the content datawith a lower priority may be automatically deleted (i.e., the contentdata with priority 3 in this example) from the hard disc. If deletingthe content data with a lower priority fails to vacate sufficient spaceto accommodate the content data about to be recorded temporarily to theHDD 330 (i.e., the content data with priority 2 in this case), the usermay be informed thereof and asked to reconsider the priorities.Alternatively, the user may be notified that the recording is canceleddue to a lack of recordable capacity.

If it is not desired to let lower-priority content data be deletedautomatically or to cancel the recording outright, the informationcontrol unit 351 may ask the other recorder or recorders configured onthe network 302 whether or not any one of them can record the contentdata on behalf of this recorder with its insufficient capacity. If anyconfigured recorder is found capable of accommodating the content data,the data may be transferred (store) to that recorder for storage.

As described, a plurality of titles of content data to be recorded tothe disc 1 may be stored temporarily on the HDD 330 in the descendingorder of their priorities. Later, when the applicable disc 1 is loadedand when the content data to be recorded to that disc are found to existon the HDD 330 (in step S143 of FIG. 45), the dialog screen 431 of FIG.46 appears (in step S144 of FIG. 45). When the user designates recordingof the content data to the disc, the multiple titles of content dataretained on the HDD 330 are retrieved successively and recorded to thedisc 1 in the descending order of their priorities (in step s146 of FIG.45).

If the recordable capacity of the disc 1 is exhausted halfway while theapplicable contend data are being recorded thereto in the descendingorder of their priorities, the user may be notified thereof.Alternatively, the user may be presented not only with the notice of theexhausted capacity of the disc 1 but also with candidates of recordablediscs to which the remaining-content data may be recorded.

If in step S143 of FIG. 45 the loaded disc 1 is not found to beassociated with the content data retained temporarily on the HDD 330,then the information control unit 351 may alternatively search throughthe other digital video recorder or recorders configured on the network302 for any content data which are to be recorded to the disc 1 inquestion and which are being retained temporarily by the configuredrecorder or recorders.

The search process in the alternative case above is described below withreference to the flowchart of FIG. 52. This process is carried out whenthe digital video recorder 301 is connected to the network 302.

In step S171, the information control unit 351 causes the current discinformation management unit 353 to determine whether or not the disc 1is loaded into this recorder. The information control unit 351 waits forthe disc 1 to be loaded (corresponding to step S141 in FIG. 45). If instep S171 the disc 1 is found to be loaded, step S172 is reached. Instep S172, the information control unit 351 causes the current discinformation management unit 353 to read the disc ID and disc informationfrom the loaded disc 1 (corresponding to step S142 in FIG. 45).

In step S173, the information control unit 351 causes the communicationunit 352 to establish connection with the other digital video recorderor recorders configured on the network 302. The information control unit351 inquires the other recorders connected to the network 302 whether ornot they have any content data associated with the disc ID retrieved instep S172 by the current disc information management unit 353.

Each of the other digital video recorders configured references the discmanagement table in its data management memory 328A, searches its HDD330 for any content data associated with the inquired disc ID, and sendsthe result of the search along with the device ID of the recorder to thedigital video recorder that originated the inquiry.

In step S174, the information control unit 351 receives the response(i.e., result of the search) from the other recorder or recorders. Instep S175, the information control unit 351 determines whether or notany other configured digital video recorder has the content data to berecorded to the loaded disc.

If in step S175 no other recorder is found to retain any content data tobe recorded to the loaded disc, step S180 is reached. If in step S175some other digital video recorder is found to have the content data tobe recorded to the loaded disc, step S176 is reached. In step S176, theinformation control unit 351 causes the display unit 9 to display adialog screen 471 such as one shown in FIG. 53.

The dialog screen 471 indicates a message informing the user thatcontent data to be recorded to the loaded disc have been found in someother configured recorder. Also indicated on the screen 471 are a Recordbutton 472, a Delete button 473, and a Change button 474. Each of thebuttons 472 through 474 is operated selectively by the user. Selectingthe Record button 472 causes the content data in question to be acquiredfrom the other recorder and recorded to the disc 1; selecting the Deletebutton 473 deletes the content data from the other recorder; andselecting the Change button 474 changes discs so that the content dataheld on the other recorder are to be recorded to a disc other than thecurrently loaded one.

Returning to step S177 in FIG. 52, the information control unit 351determines which of the Record button 472, Delete button 473, and Changebutton 474 is selected by the user on the dialog screen 471 shown inFIG. 53. If the user is found to have selected the Record button 472,step S178 is reached.

In step S178, the information control unit 351, using the communicationunit 352 and network 302, acquires from the other configured recorderthe content data to be recorded to the loaded disc and supplies theacquired data to the recording/reproduction unit 5 for recording to thedisc 1. After the content data from the other recorder have beenrecorded to the disc 1, the data in question held by the other recorderare deleted either automatically or manually in response to the user'sinstruction.

If in step S177 the user is found to have selected the Delete button473, step S179 is reached. In step S179, the information control unit351 using the communication unit 352 and network 302 causes the otherconfigured recorder to delete its content data that were to be recordedto the loaded disc.

If in step S177 the user is found to have selected the Change button474, step S180 is reached. In step S180, the information control unit351 causes the display unit 9 to display the disc change screen shown inFIG. 47. The user then proceeds to change discs in order to get thecontent data recorded to a different disc as discussed above.

More specifically in step S180, the information control unit 351 updatesthe applicable additional information (date of date creation, remainingrecordable capacity, etc.) and flags in its disc management tablefollowing the recording to the disc 1 of the content data acquired fromthe other configured recorder, the deletion of the content data inquestion from the other configured recorder, or the change of discspreparatory to recording. Alternatively, the information control unit351 using the network 302 causes the other configured recorder to updatethe additional information and flags in the disc management table ofthat recorder.

As described, it is easy to search the other configured recorder orrecorders over the network 302 for any content data that need to berecorded to the disc 1. If any other configured recorder is found toretain the content data to be recorded to the disc 1, the data inquestion are acquired from that recorder and recorded to the disc 1.

In the manner described above, local disc IDs and local disc names whichare added to the discs 1 and which differ from their original disc IDsand disc names allow each digital video recorder to manage the discswith ease. Furthermore, the inventive arrangements permit the HDD 330 ofthe digital video recorder to retain temporarily the content data to berecorded eventually to a given disc 1.

The data stored on the HDD 330 are not limited to those to be recordedto the disc 1; the data not associated with the disc 1 may also beretained temporarily on the HDD 330. Illustratively, the data retainedon the HDD 330 but not scheduled to be recorded to the disc 1, and thedata saved temporarily on the HDD 330 because of an inadvertent removalof power or like eventualities, may be associated as needed with thedisc 1 through simple operations.

Described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 54 is theprocess of displaying the data held on the HDD 330. This process isstarted when the user performs operations to let all data held on theHDD 330 be displayed on the screen.

In steps S191 and S192, the information control unit 351 in response tothe user's operations references the disc management table in the datamanagement memory 328A and refers to the data management information inthe data management information storage area 361 on the HDD 330.Generally, the disc management table contains the disc information aboutall discs 1 that have been loaded so far and the data managementinformation includes all data that have been held in the real datastorage area 362. Referencing these tables allows the informationcontrol unit 351 to acquire the content data to be recorded to the disc1 as well as the data not associated therewith (i.e., all data that havebeen stored on the HDD 330).

In step S193, the information control unit 351 associates theinformation acquired in step S191 from the disc management table withthe data management information obtained in step S192, and causes thedisplay unit 9 to display an HDD reference screen 481 such as one shownin FIG. 55.

The HDD reference screen 481 displays folders 482-1 through 482-3 aswell as files 483-1 and 483-2. The folder 482-1 is shown having contentdata to be recorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0001” (with a localdisc name “Father”); the folder 482-2 is shown holding content data tobe recorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0002” (with a local disc name“Travels”); and the folder 482-3 is shown retaining content data to berecorded to a disc 1 having a disc ID “0003” (with a local disc name“Horses”). The files 483-1 and 483-2 indicate data that are notassociated with any disc 1.

These icons on display allow the user to determine easily whether or notany given set of data is associated with any disc 1.

Suppose that after viewing the HDD reference screen 481, the user wantsto have the file 483-2 recorded to the applicable disc. In that case,the user right-clicks the mouse to display a pull-down screen 484. Thepull-down screen 484 shows items “Father,” “Travels” and “Horses.” Whenthe user selects one of the items (e.g., item “Father”), the file 483-2is moved into the corresponding folder (folder 482-1 in this case) andthe disc management table is updated accordingly (a recording ID for thetitle B is brought into association with the disc ID “0001” whenrecorded).

Whereas it was shown that the user may select any one of the items onthe pull-down screen 484 to get the desired file associated with theapplicable disc (i.e., folder), this is not limitative of the invention.Alternatively, the file 483-2 may be simply moved into the folder 482-1in a drag-and-drop manner to establish its correspondence to theapplicable disc.

Whereas the folders 482-1 through 482-3 are created and displayed on thebasis of their disc IDs held in the disc management table, this is notlimitative of the invention. Alternatively, the content data placed ineach of the folders may be additionally displayed on the screen.

For example, when the user double-clicks on the folder 482-1 with themouse, a disc reference screen 491 such as one in FIG. 56 appears. Thedisc reference screen 491 shows files 492-1 and 492-2 which are contentdata held in the folder 482-1 (i.e., data to be recorded to the discwith the disc ID “0001”). With the disc reference screen 491 on display,the user may set or change priorities for the content data to berecorded to the disc.

For example, if the user wants to change the priority for the file492-2, the user right-clicks the mouse to get a pull-down screen 493displayed. The pull-down screen 493 shows items “1” and “2” indicativeof priorities (the priority is shown set for “2” in this example). Ifthe user selects the item “1,” the priority for the file 492-2 ischanged from “2” to “1.” Following the user's operations, the file 492-1has its priority changed from “1” to “2,” and the recording IDs in thedisc management table are updated correspondingly.

As described, when the disc information in the data management table aredisplayed in the form of icons or like indications, the user is offeredmore data visibility in establishing the correspondence of the data notassociated with any disc to a desired disc through simple operations.

It has been shown that the content data to be recorded to the disc 1 arerecorded temporarily onto the HDD 330 in the absence of the disc 1.Alternatively, the data may be temporarily recorded not only to the HDD330 but also to other suitable recording media such as magnetic discs,optical discs, magneto-optical discs, or semiconductor memories.

The series of processes described above (e.g., the routine process ofFIG. 4, duplication process of FIG. 5, reproduction reservation processof FIG. 7, search process of FIG. 13, deletion process of FIG. 21, modesetting process of FIG. 26, duplicate storage process of FIG. 30,routine process of FIG. 39, content recording process of FIG. 41,recording process of FIG. 45, priority setting process of FIG. 48,search process of FIG. 52, and content display process of FIG. 54) maybe executed by hardware as well as by software. For the software-basedprocessing to take place, the programs constituting processing sequencesmay be either loaded from dedicated hardware of a computer into itsinternal memory for execution, or installed upon program execution froma suitable program recording medium into a general-purpose personalcomputer or like equipment capable of executing diverse functions.

FIG. 57 indicates a typical internal structure of a general-purposecomputer. In this structure, a CPU (central processing unit) 501 of thecomputer performs diverse processes in accordance with programs held ina ROM (read only memory) 502 or with programs loaded from a storage unit508 into a RAM (random access memory) 503. The RAM 503 also accommodatesdata that may be needed by the CPU 501 in carrying out its processing.

The CPU 501, ROM 502, and RAM 503 are interconnected with one anothervia a bus 504. The bus 504 is also connected to an input/outputinterface 505.

The input/output interface 505 is connected to an input unit 506, anoutput unit 507, the storage unit 508, and a communication unit 509. Theinput unit 506 is made up of buttons, switches, a keyboard, and/or amouse. The output unit 507 is formed by a display device such as a CRT(cathode ray tube) or an LCD and by speakers. The communication unit509, constituted by a modem or a terminal adapter, conductscommunications over networks including the Internet.

The input/output interface 505 is also connected as needed to a drive510 that is loaded with a magnetic disc 511, an optical disc 512, amagneto-optical disc 513, or a semiconductor memory 514. Computerprograms held on these media are read out and installed into the storageunit 508 for execution.

As shown in FIG. 57, the program recording media for accommodatingcomputer-installable, computer-executable programs designed to performthe above-described processes are constituted not only by such packagemedia as the magnetic disc 511 (including flexible disks), optical disc512 (including CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) and DVD (digitalversatile disc)), magneto-optical disc 513 (including MD (Mini-Disc;registered trademark)), or semiconductor memory 514; but also by the ROM502 and storage unit 508 which are preinstalled in the computer beforebeing offered to users and which may have the programs stored thereintemporarily or permanently. The programs are recorded to the recordingmedia via the communication unit 509 such as a router or a modem andthrough wired or wireless communication media such as public circuitnetworks, local area networks, the Internet, and digital satellitebroadcasting networks.

In this specification, the steps which are stored on the programrecording medium and which describe the programs to be executedrepresent not only the processes that are carried out in the depictedsequence (i.e., on a time series basis) but also processes that may beconducted parallelly or individually.

In this specification, the term “system” refers to an entireconfiguration made up of a plurality of component devices.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the invention, as described above, it is easy to manageinformation recorded on discs.

It is also easy to prevent inconsistencies that may occur in the managedinformation following such eventualities as an inadvertent removal ofpower.

The invention makes it possible properly to manage information recordedon a plurality of discs. Items of the information thus recorded can belisted, sorted, and searched for with ease.

Furthermore, the invention allows discs to be furnished with additionalinformation that differs from user to user or from one recorder toanother. Where a recording disc is not loaded in the recorder for themoment, data that should be recorded to that disc may be storedtemporarily in the recorder for data management purposes.

1. An information processing apparatus, comprising: storing means fortemporarily storing content data that is to be recorded subsequently toan information recording medium which is currently not loaded, and fortemporarily storing, in association with the content data,identification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; reading means for reading, in response to the informationrecording medium being loaded, identification information foridentifying said information recording medium, the identificationinformation being read from the loaded information recording medium;first comparing means for comparing the read out identificationinformation with the temporarily stored identification informationassociated with the temporarily stored content data; recording means forrecording the stored content data onto the loaded information recordingmedium if the comparison by said comparing means reveals that the readout identification information matches the temporarily storedidentification information associated with the temporarily storedcontent data; acquiring means for acquiring respective relatedinformation for each one of a plurality of previously loaded informationrecording mediums, the related information for a given one of theplurality of previously loaded information recording mediums includingrespective identification information for that information recordingmedium and a list of entries recorded on that information recordingmedium; display controlling means for controlling display of at leastpart of the acquired related information; selecting means for selecting,from the displayed related information, an entry from the list ofentries recorded on a particular one of the plurality of previouslyloaded information recording mediums; said reading means, in response toanother information recording medium being loaded, reading from theanother loaded information recording medium further identificationinformation for identifying the another information recording medium;second comparing means for comparing the further identificationinformation read out by said reading means with the respectiveidentification information associated with the particular one of theplurality of previously loaded information recording mediums; andnotifying means for, in response to the comparison by said secondcomparing means indicating that the read out identification informationdoes not match the respective identification information associated withthe particular one of the plurality of previously loaded informationrecording mediums, prompting a user to load a further one of theplurality of previously loaded information recording mediums whoserespective identification information is associated with the selectedrelated information.
 2. An information processing apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising reproducing means for, if the comparison bysaid comparing means reveals that the respective identificationinformation associated with said related information selected by saidselecting means matches said further identification information read outby said reading means, reproducing from said another informationrecording medium said further content data associated with said relatedinformation selected by said selecting means.
 3. An informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said informationprocessing apparatus further comprises: third comparing means forcomparing the read out further identification information with therespective identification information of each one of the plurality ofpreviously loaded information recording mediums; and updating means forupdating, if the comparison by said third comparing means reveals thatthe read out further identification information matches the respectiveidentification information of at least one of the plurality ofpreviously loaded information recording mediums so that the anotherinformation recording medium is one of the plurality of previouslyloaded information recording mediums, the acquired related informationbased on further related information read from the another informationrecording medium.
 4. An information processing apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein said storing means stores second content data acquiredin association with still further identification information; andfurther comprising: determining means for determining whether or notsaid further identification information read out by said reading meansmatches the still further identification information associated withsaid second content data stored by said storing means.
 5. An informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising writingmeans which, if said determining means determines that said furtheridentification information read out by said reading means matches thestill further identification information associated with said secondcontent data stored by said storing means, then reads said secondcontent data from said storing means and writes said second content datato said another information recording medium.
 6. An informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said recording meansrecords, in association with said further identification information,additional information which differs from said further relatedinformation recorded on said another information recording medium andwhich concerns said further content data.
 7. An information processingapparatus according to claim 3, further comprising selection means for auser to select a list entry mode for adding an entry to said list ofentries when said list of entries contains a maximum allowable number ofentries.
 8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 3,further comprising priority setting means for a user to set a priorityfor said further content data to be recorded by said recording means tosaid another information recording medium; wherein the priority settingmeans displays a priority setting screen based on the relatedinformation for the user to set the priority for the further contentdata.
 9. An information processing method, comprising: temporarilystoring content data that is to be recorded subsequently to aninformation recording medium which is currently not loaded, andtemporarily storing, in association with the content data,identification information for identifying the information recordingmedium; loading the information recording medium; in response to theinformation recording medium being loaded, reading, from the loadedinformation recording medium, identification information for identifyingsaid information recording medium, comparing the read out identificationinformation with the temporarily stored identification informationassociated with the temporarily stored content data, and recording thetemporarily stored content data onto the loaded information recordingmedium if the comparing step reveals that the read out identificationinformation matches the temporarily stored identification informationassociated with the temporarily stored content data; acquiringrespective related information for each one of a plurality of previouslyloaded information recording mediums, the related information for agiven one of the plurality of previously loaded information recordingmediums including respective identification information for thatinformation recording medium and a list of entries recorded on thatinformation recording medium; controlling display of at least part ofthe acquired related information; selecting, from the displayed relatedinformation, an entry from the list of entries recorded on a particularone of the plurality of previously loaded information recording mediums;and in response to another information recording medium being loaded,reading from the another loaded information recording medium furtheridentification information for identifying the another informationrecording medium, comparing the read out further identificationinformation with the respective identification information associatedwith the particular one of the plurality of previously loadedinformation recording mediums, and in response to the comparisonindicating that the read out identification information does not matchthe respective identification information associated with the particularone of the plurality of previously loaded information recording mediums,prompting a user to load a further one of the plurality of previouslyloaded information recording mediums whose respective identificationinformation is associated with the selected related information.
 10. Aninformation processing method according to claim 9, further comprising:comparing the further identification information read out read out fromthe another loaded information recording medium with the respectiveidentification information of each one of the plurality of previouslyloaded information recording medium; and updating, if the comparisonreveals that the read out further identification information matches therespective identification information of at least one of the pluralityof previously loaded information recording mediums so that the anotherinformation recording medium is one of the plurality of previouslyloaded information recording mediums, the acquired related informationbased on further related information read from the another informationrecording medium.
 11. An information processing method according toclaim 10, further comprising: storing second content data acquired inassociation with still further identification information; anddetermining whether or not said further identification information readout from the another information recording medium matches the stillfurther identification information associated with said stored secondcontent data.
 12. An information processing method according to claim11, further comprising reading, if said determining step determines thatsaid read out further identification information matches the stillfurther identification information associated with said second contentdata, said stored second content data and writing said second contentdata to said another information recording medium.
 13. An informationprocessing method according to claim 10, further comprising: selecting alist entry mode for adding an entry to said list of entries when saidlist of entries contains a maximum allowable number of entries; addingsaid entry to said list of entries in accordance with the selected listentry mode when the list of entries contains a maximum allowable numberof entries; setting a priority for said further content data to berecorded to said another information recording medium, includingdisplaying a priority setting screen based on the related informationfor a user to set the priority for the content data; and recording saidfurther content data to said another information recording medium inaccordance with the set priority.